The awkward truth about God’s wrath makes it an unpopular topic. Because, well…the thought an Almighty God is angry and might punish us is frightful and something we’d rather not talk about. But scripture mentions it frequently. So here are three things to keep in mind about it.
The awkward truth about God’s wrath. God’s thoughts and emotions are higher than ours
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV, Isaiah 55:8-9)
We are made in God’s image with His emotions and relational character traits. Along with a will and conscience to distinguish between right and wrong. Furthermore, we have intelligence and the ability to observe God’s existence demonstrated through His creation.
But God is infinite and we are finite. Furthermore, our image is marred due to sin. Therefore, our thoughts and emotions are capricious and unpredictable. And our wrath is often uncontrolled, which leads to irrational actions with disastrous consequences.
But not so with God. He is perfectly holy, righteous, and just. Absolutely consistent in all His ways.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (ESV, Romans 1:18-19)
So what exactly is God’s wrath? It is His divine anger towards and sovereign will to punish sin. What the Bible calls ungodliness and unrighteousness. All who embrace sin and reject God’s provision, Jesus Christ, must face it.
Even so, God’s wrath is not capricious and out of control like ours. Nor does He seek personal vengeance. But His wrath and judgment are individually measured and appropriately dispensed.
That’s the bad news. But there’s good news too.
God’s wrath is received at the end of this life
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. (ESV, Romans 9:22)
God loves us and is patient. He doesn’t fidget on his throne, gleefully rubbing his hands together in anticipation…eager to zap us with lightning bolts. He gives us an entire earthly life to see His truth and respond to Jesus Christ. And many opportunities to seek Him.
However, keep in mind that God is equally love and just. And while He lovingly waits for us to respond, His absolute justice won’t be denied. Furthermore, His absolute wrath and judgment are perfectly measured and administered according to His perfect character. We get exactly what we deserve.
The awkward truth about God’s wrath. It is turned away by God’s grace.
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (ESV, 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Jesus Christ was God’s gift to us and an expression of His love. As the Son of God, Jesus lived a perfect life, died on a cross for our sins, and resurrected from the dead three days later. When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and accept him as Lord, we receive God’s grace instead of wrath.
And arejustified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, received by faith. (ESV, Romans 3:24-25a)
The Greek word for “propitiation” is hilastēriŏn, which means an atoning victim. In other words, Jesus’ sacrificial death atoned for our sins and satisfies God’s requirement of perfect justice. Because Jesus was a perfect sacrifice.
Till then, God’s wrath bears down on us like a speeding locomotive. Standing firm on the tracks means facing God’s wrath. But we can step off by accepting God’s grace. The choice is up to each of us. Those covered by the atonement of Jesus will receive grace. And enjoy an eternal homecoming. Those who reject Jesus will experience an awkward realization and an awful reality. Just don’t blame the train if you chose not to move.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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Ways people approach ultimate life questions. Who am I? Why am I here? What happens when I die? Over the years in ministry I’ve observed different ways people approach these ultimate life questions. Here are four of the most common ones.
Ways people approach ultimate life questions. Press on and don’t think about it
When I was in seminary as a single adult, I attended a religious conference in Glorieta, New Mexico. The conference center was nestled among mountains. And during free time, a girl, another guy, and I decided to hike up the side of a mountain.
Now this was not Mount Everest. It was covered by trees, not snow and actually had a hiking path to the top so it wasn’t treacherous. But it was very steep with some spots where I climbed on all fours. Along the way we came to a clearing and the girl and I paused to take in the scenery. We were awed by the majestic beauty and an Almighty God who created it.
However, the other guy chided us for wasting time. He was on a mission to reach the top. And as he pressed ahead the girl looked at me with a smile and said, “He’s a get there hiker.”
That’s how some people approach life.
Always busy. Moving forward. Determined to get there. So they set goals, establish agendas, and move forward on the path to get ahead. A better job, bigger house, and higher income. Don’t waste your time speculating. Just keep pressing forward.
I see this approach most often in young adults who are full of energy, dreams, and aspirations. Older people slow down because…well, you don’t have a choice. And become more introspective as they realize there is more of life behind than ahead of them.
Of course, the Bible talks about pressing ahead too. It just has a different focus. Here’s what the Apostle Paul says:
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV, Philippians 3:13-14)
Paul pressed forward with a goal and Godly purpose which was to follow and more closely imitate Jesus Christ. He would claim his prize when he entered heaven.
Ways people approach ultimate life questions. Hope for the best.
This is my approach to golf. In my younger days I played golf with a friend who was a scratch golfer. I on the other hand, was a hacker.
And if we were on a hill in the fairway as we approached the green, and the green was at the top and we couldn’t see the pin, my friend would pace it off. He’d walk up to the hole and back, select a club, and put the ball within six feet of the pin.
I on the other hand just took my chances. Guess on the right club, hit the ball and hope for the best. Because for me, hitting the ball straight was an accomplishment and getting within six yards of the green a win.
And this is how some people approach their spiritual life. They generally believe in God and have a sense of moral right and wrong. They know bits and pieces about Christianity and perhaps attend church occasionally. But they don’t explore it deeply or make it an important part of their life. They aim in what they see as the right spiritual direction and hope for the best.
But you don’t have to wonder. Or guess. Or hope for the best. Scripture says you can know.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (ESV, 1 John 5:13)
The Bible answers life’s ultimate questions. And provides assurance to those who embrace its truth. You don’t have to guess, but you do have to seek its truth. And take the time to study and learn God’s word.
Ways people approach ultimate life questions. Do good things.
This is the most common approach because most people believe in God. They have a sense of right and wrong. Good and evil. And know heaven is where the good people go. But they don’t recognize the real problem, which is sin. Instead, they mistakenly believe that God uses this spiritual scale to weigh the good against the bad and if the good wins out, you go to heaven.
So, typically, this person compares themselves morally to others. They admit they aren’t perfect, but consider themselves morally superior to criminals shown on the news. And to prove it, they post all their virtuous acts on social media.
A rich young man who encounters Jesus and he asks him, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?
And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
He did the right things and checked off all the boxes. But knew something was still missing. So he asked, “What else do I lack?”
And what he lacked was a heart sold out to Jesus. And Jesus saw his heart. Just like he sees our hearts. The young man’s first priority was material possessions. Which is why Jesus told him to give it all away. Because Jesus wants to be our first priority. You see the do good approach wants to make a contribution. But Jesus wants a commitment. And this takes us to the last approach.
Ways people approach ultimate life questions. Follow Jesus
John 3:16 is one of the most well-known scripture verses in the Bible and says, “For God so loved the world he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
However, Jesus was more demanding.
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. (ESV, Luke 9:23)
Following Jesus is not an easy path. Especially in today’s secular culture that is growing more hostile towards the Bible and Christians. It takes more courage and commitment to follow Jesus today than ever before.
It involves submitting yourself to God. Confessing your sin, asking Jesus for forgiveness, and following him as Savior and Lord. It’s the approach that answers all the ultimate questions in life.
Deuteronomy 13:4 puts it this way:
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
It’s simple though not easy. But it’s a life full of joy. Of meaning and purpose. And eternal hope. As you consider these different approaches, I pray you consider the one that follows Jesus.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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Four ways God reveals himself to humanity. If God exists, how does he reveal himself to us? Here are four ways the Bible identifies.
Four ways God reveals himself to humanity. God reveals himself through scripture.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (ESV, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Humans wrote the Bible. But God’s Spirit supernaturally inspired each author to write exactly what He wants us to know. Its absolute truth addresses all matters of life. And it describes how to live in a manner that glorifies God.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (ESV, Hebrews 4:12)
In addition, scripture is more than ink on paper. God’s words are alive and active. And meant for you to read, meditate on, and saturate into your heart and mind. So, when you engage them in your thoughts and actions, they manifest a life of holiness and righteousness. Not perfectly, but in one that honors God.
Four ways God reveals himself to humanity. God reveals himself through creation
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (ESV, Romans 1:19-20)
God’s fingerprints mark all of creation. However, belief is a choice. And you can deny his existence and instead, believe in evolution. But you’ll miss the beauty, majesty, and splendor of an Almighty God. And the sense of wonder his creation inspires. A pageantry beyond our comprehension. And a masterpiece of intelligent design. Or, if you prefer, dumb luck.
But that choice is a life characterized by pride, dominated by sin, and without hope.
Four ways God reveals himself to humanity. God reveals himself through His church
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (ESV, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
Is the church an organization or a building? Neither. It is the body of Christ. A congregation of Christ-followers indwelled and unified by God’s Spirit. And a melting pot of race, culture, language, socioeconomic, and political differences with one thing in common–the desire to love and follow Jesus Christ.
The church gathers to worship, fellowship, and support one another. And when it ministers in Jesus’ name, the church displays God’s love through his people.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV, Galatians 5:22)
The fruit of the Spirit is visible evidence of God’s presence in the lives of His people. Broken due to sin. But as believers imitate Jesus and honor God through righteous living, it reflects, in a small way, the righteousness of God.
Four ways God reveals himself to humanity. God reveals himself through Jesus Christ
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (ESV 1:1)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (ESV, John 1:14)
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. (ESV, Colossians 2:9)
Who is Jesus Christ? Scripture provides a clear answer. He is the Son of God. Fully human and fully divine. He lived a perfect life. Taught God’s truth. Performed miracles. Died on a cross for our sins, and rose from the grave three days later. And those who believe in and follow him by faith are granted eternal life.
Jesus Christ is God’s complete revelation of himself to humanity. And if you miss this one, probably, nothing else will convince you. But when you recognize Jesus as God, confess him as Lord, and follow him, your life is changed forever.
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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When God gets your attention. He speaks from a Godly source, validates his word, and his word is final.
God generally works through ordinary people and events. But he sometimes reveals himself in extraordinary ways that inspire awe and wonder. And they remind us that while God is sovereign over the universe, he still involves himself in the details our lives. Because he wants a personal relationship with each one of us and sometimes uses unusual means to get our attention and present a choice. Such is the story of Ahaziah, the king of Samaria. The story is told in 2 Kings 1:1-18.
When God gets your attention he speaks from a Godly source
People are inherently spiritual. Even those who reject the Biblical God often seek spiritual substitutes to follow and worship. Like Ahaziah, king of Samaria, which was the capital of Israel at the time. After Ahaziah was seriously injured in a fall, he sent messengers to ask the pagan god Baal-zebub if he would get better.
However, God told the prophet Elijah to intercept the messengers on their way. Elijah told them to inform the king he should have inquired of the true God of Israel, not Baal-zebub. Therefore, the God of Israel says he will die.
This gets King Ahaziah’s attention.
When God gets your attention he validates his word
We commonly seek a second opinion when we receive bad news. And question the validity of a voice that might be God. Is God really speaking? Is it simply a dream? Our imagination? Is the source trustworthy or should we fact check? That’s what King Ahaziah did.
He sent a military captain with fifty shoulders to directly confront the source. The prophet Elijah.
Elijah was sitting on a hill when they arrived. Not a particularly impressive posture for a messenger of God. And the captain was bold and confident. He commanded Elijah to come down from the hill. To which Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” ( ESV, 2 Kings 1:10) ZAP! Nothing left but a heap of ashes.
King Ahaziah sent another captain with fifty soldiers and the scene was repeated. The captain of a third group, however, wised up. He fell on his knees before Elijah and pleaded for his life and those of his men. And God told Elijah to go with them to see King Ahaziah.
Today, God commonly validates his word through scripture, the counsel of Godly people, and divinely orchestrated events. But in this story, God clearly spoke and validated his word through Elijah the prophet.
When God gets your attention his word is final.
Scripture does not record everything said between Elijah and king Ahaziah when they met. Did king Ahaziah seek forgiveness? The text doesn’t say. But he is presented with a choice. He can…
Repent before God
Reject God
Ignore God’s word and hope God doesn’t mean what he says
It’s doubtful king Ahaziah repented because God generally relents before a contrite heart. Ahaziah more likely refused to give up his false god. And perhaps, like the two, crispy fried captains thought God would not follow through on his word.
So Elijah repeated God’s words of judgment on king Ahaziah. Since he turned to the false god Baal-zebub rather than the true God of Israel, he would not get better, but die. And it happened according to God’s final word as spoken through Elijah.
But the story could have ended differently. God gained king Ahaziah’s attention and gave him two opportunities. First, to put his own heart right before God and second, lead his people to also follow and worship the God of Israel. But he didn’t which is also in God’s providence. God allows us all to freely choose.
The story demonstrates God’s grace and justice. King Ahaziah rejected God’s grace and therefore, received justice. And the same offer of grace and justice is presented today in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only one question remains.
When Jesus walked on water, he both frightened and amazed his disciples. The story is recorded in Matthew 14:33-36; Mark 6:45-56; John 6:16-24. Here are some lessons it teaches us today.
When Jesus walked on water. The storms of life can shake your faith and fill you with fear.
After feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus sent his disciples off in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee and he went off alone to pray. Later in the night, a storm arose and the disciples struggled in the boat against strong winds and waves. So Jesus walked out to them on the water.
Was this an impulsive, original idea by Jesus? Maybe not.
You alone stretched out the heavens and trampled on the waves of the sea. (ESV, Job 9:8)
Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? (ESV, Job 38:16)
Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. (ESV, Psalm 77:19)
These passages indicate Jesus had previous water walking experience, perhaps during creation, and this was just another casual sea stroll to demonstrate his divinity. Although when the disciples saw Jesus they thought he was a ghost and it frightened them even more. At least until Jesus spoke and they recognized his voice.
Isn’t this true for us? The storms we encounter in life shake our faith and cause fear? But notice, Jesus didn’t wait for the disciples to cry out for help. He saw their distress and went to their aid. It’s reassuring to know he takes the initiative on our behalf too.
When Jesus walked on water. Follow Jesus and you might get in over your head.
You have to love Peter. A guy who acts first and thinks later. He does at least recognize he can only walk on the water by Jesus’ power. And give him credit as the only disciple brave enough to get out of the boat. He does great at first while he focuses on Jesus. But then he begins to think about it. Second guess himself. Focus on his circumstances rather than Jesus. And begins to sink.
Although once again, Jesus grabs on and pulls him to the surface. And it wouldn’t be the last time Peter’s impulsive behavior led him into choppy waters. It’s a familiar story for us too. When difficult circumstances test our faith we tend to focus more on the circumstances than on Jesus. And may feel like we’re in over our heads.
But even when it feels like you are alone and abandoned, you’re not as David reminds us.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (ESV, Psalm 46:1)
In fact, God does HIs best work through us when we acknowledge our weakness and call on Him for strength. And when God demonstrates His power through our weakness, we are more likely to give Him the glory.
When Jesus walked on water. When you provide the faith, Jesus delivers the power.
Jesus chastised Peter for his little faith. But maybe with a smile? Because Peter demonstrated faith through his actions.
And this is exactly what Jesus’ half-brother talks about in James 2:14-26.
You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV, James 2:18)
James isn’t saying to demonstrate good works to earn salvation. He’s telling Christ-followers now that you’re saved by grace through faith, you should demonstrate that faith by your actions.
Exactly what Peter is doing!
Of course, it wasn’t Peter’s first miracle rodeo with Jesus. He had just witnessed Jesus feed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Watched him command a lame man to pick up his bed and walk. Lazarus to wake up from the dead and come out of the tomb. And many others.
Yes, faith is important and Jesus said we only need faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. And so too, is the importance of prayer. But the lesson in this story is the importance of remaining focused on Jesus. Because even as people of faith, the storms of life make that difficult.
But when Peter’s faith failed in the middle of the storm, he called out to Jesus who pulled him from the swirling waters. And we can trust God’s faithfulness. He will do the same for us.
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